Late boost for the Boks
Rassie Erasmus has brought Ntuthuko Mchunu back into the squad. The Stormers loosehead has joined the Springboks group in Johannesburg. His arrival takes the squad to 44 players.
Mchunu had first been left out. Last week, Erasmus released him back to his franchise when he named an initial group of 43. The head coach did the same with Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter, Embrose Papier and Jaco Williams.
The 27-year-old comes in off the back of earning his fourth cap in the win over Scotland in Pretoria on 11 July during the Nations Championship. He was back with his team-mates on Monday, the day after Sunday’s camp.
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Next stop Argentina, then the All Blacks
The schedule is brutal. The Springboks face Argentina in Buenos Aires on 8 August. Then comes Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against the All Blacks, with the first of four Tests taking place in Johannesburg on 22 August.
Erasmus is due to name his Argentina squad this week. The players picked will travel in two waves on Saturday. The rest will stay in Johannesburg to prepare for New Zealand under part of the coaching staff.
There is still uncertainty over Ox Nche. The Sharks prop went off with a knee injury against England. Erasmus still expects him to be ready for the clash with the All Blacks.
A call that keeps the competition alive
Erasmus’s thinking is obvious. Give everyone minutes and a feel for things before making the big call for the flagship series. South Africa’s front row is already shaping up as a proper scrap.
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